How to Best Thank Our Veterans?
This is undeniably corny, but I like the message.
Thanking our veterans is the least we can do. Someone ought to tell that to John "Have I Mentioned Vietnam Lately?" McCain.
I also like Jenn's idea. She sent the above clip suggesting a big sloppy wet one might be the way to show our gratitude toward soldiers. I may not be able to sign a bill into law, but I sure can kiss a veteran. Ask around. And then pucker up.
However, I bet our soldiers would rather their benefits and dignity restored. So we better get a President who will do just that.
And then I'll kiss everyone.
posted by kate @ 7:22 AM
3 comments
3 Comments:
Don't go overboard here...but
Just what are we thanking them for? Service?
Most are in the military because of their own financial or personal reasons. They are volunteers.
No different than a cop. Or, I would argue, a steel worker, a logger, or a fisherman. All are dangerous occupations which are necessary parts of our world that someone has to work at in order for the rest of us to sit in an office and blog.
As a matter of fact, just when do the folks in the military have a responsibility to say no, I won't kill that person, I won't torch that village, I won't invade that country, I won't torture, I won't bomb?
Just think, without these people who choose to make the military a career and then say yes to everything thrown at them, you would have no Abu Grahib, no Guantanamo.
Face it, most soldiers go into the military at age 18 without any idea of what they are really doing. Then, when the military gets them, they break them mentally and physically and build them into people who now think their buddies are the only important people in the world. Isn't that what you always hear? "I volunteered to go back to help my buddies?" And this is from young people with a spouse and kids and they put themselves a half a world away with guns pointed at them and killing other people because their buddies are more important. This is what you get when you let the professionals fuck with your mind.
With Iraq, not talking about some war like WW 2 where we were attacked. We're talking about a war of aggression, a war for oil.
They could say no, no torture, no bombing of civilians, no to Cheney and Bush. They didn't. They share the responsibility for what they do.
No, I'm not saying they all are evil, though, I'm sure, some are. And, yes, some do join the military with the thought of service to their country. But some do it because they watched one too many John Wayne movie. Some because it was one of the options the judge gave them. Some because they can't or don't want to go to college. Some because it was what Dad did and they were brought up to do. And some to get out of poverty.
Some are heroes. Don't get me wrong. It's just not most of them. Randomly thanking people just because they wear a uniform is just pandering, like wearing flag pins made in China and putting ribbons on your car (and the profits from printing them go nowhere near a veteran).
And there is a need for the military. We need a defense, just like we need cops, judges, loggers, etc. It is just that the military is misused so often and often for profit. And they often say "Yessir" when they should say no, when saying no is the real service to this country.
So, no, I'm not going to thank them all. And I don't want to be thanked by all of you. It cheapens what the heroes do.
You raise some interesting points. Teachers, police officers, firefighters...lots of professions are filled with heroes who deserve our gratitude.
I *said* I'll kiss everyone. What more do you want?
My husband did decide to leave because he didn't agree with the conflict, but I have to tell you that it was a huge change in our lives. He doesn't make nearly as much now (not that he made much before). Our health care costs are now through the roof (Tricare sucks, but Tricare Prime covers 100% of medical costs). Our future financial security is gone (he lost the retirement). We no longer have access to places and services we once did.
My husband was in his mid 20's when he went in. We were married, but had no children when he first entered the military. By the time he left, we had 3 kids including our twins who had special needs for a time.
It was no small thing for him to leave. Hell, he's considering going back depending on who wins the election. We were smart with our money while he was in and we're healthy, so we can get by. For anyone who didn't plan or isn't as fortunate, you really don't have the option to leave.
Some people don't realize that you can't be a conscientious objector and still be a military member. When that paperwork is accepted (and it's not always. We know people who were forced to stay because they didn't accept their paperwork), you are out of the military and you lose everything you had worked for. My husband did not file the CO paperwork (because he does believe there is a place for conflict), but rather just didn't re-enlist the last time.
And FTR, my husband hates being thanked. After his first deployment to the Middle East, when people learned he was a veteran and would thank him, he would turn to me and say, "I did nothing but miss all that time with my kids for no good reason. What the hell are they thanking me for?"
Although, I do still smile and nod at those in uniform. I'm proud of his service, probably moreso because he did stand up for himself and others around him.
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